The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-29
GEORGE r. LAWRENCE,
ORIGINAL TRAMP PRINTER,
United States

The gentleman whose abode covers
such wide extent of territory is now
in the winter of life, being about
seventy-five years of age. He is very
intelligent. pleasing in conversation,
and on the whole a most agreeable per-
sonage to meet. He was born in Sara
toga, n. Y, and at ten years of age ht
went to Albion in the same State.
my schoolmasters," said Lawrence
to a reporter, included Judge Noah
Davis, of New York City; Wilson x.
McAllister, Sidney Smith, of Chicago
the late Judge Sanford E. Church. OF
New York City, formerly Lieutenant
Governor of New York; the late Ben
Field, and others who made their mark
in the world"
"In 1880 1 jccame apprenticed to
Timothy C. Strong. editor of the Or
leans american, Orleans, n. Y. l be-
came, in time, a journeyman printer.
About 1910 we had a chance to distin-
guish ourselves in politics. / had no
voice for making speeches, and so went
about singing old Tip and Tyler too
into Office. / worked on a paper in
Rochester till 1916. marrying in the
meantime. Later. with d. R. Locke,
Nasty l went to Hudson, O., to work
in large publishing house"
"You had then begun your tramp
life?''
"Yes, and 1 have kept it up about
ever since. At Buffalo l secured sit
on the Republic. went to Washington
in Filmore's administration. l knew
him intimately. read his proofs in the
Republic office. 1t was dull in Wash
ington, so l went to Richmond. / didn't
like the place, and got out oft as soon
as l could. Iwent to Petersburg next,
and later I found myself in Tanver'
Greek. seven miles from Norfolk. Then
/ went to Portsmouth, Va. Here l had
cash capital of ten cents. l ran a
daily paper in the town and made it
pay.
Not many weeks later Commodore
Perry was fitting out for his Japan ex-
pedition. Lawrence knew of it, and
he wanted to join the feet.
81 sold my interest in the paper, "
says Lawrence, land soon shipped on
the Powhattan. Twas put on duty by
Captain Abbott. We broke a shaft.
came back to port, and when the fleet
sailed was laid up with typhoid fever.
asked for a discharge, got it, and
quietly went home to my family with
full three years pay.
THE Kansas-Nebraska bill was the
topic about this time, and Free State
men were wanted in Kansas. l started
for Leavenworth, but | soon got out OF
cash and had to do subbing at PRINTING
offices from place to place as L pro-
ceeded. I remained in Kansas till
starvation time, when I went to Pike s
Peak. Six months later found me in
Portland, Ore. We were searching for
gold. Next, 1 found myself in Frisco.
Then l crossed the Isthmus and came
home to Rochester"
Were you glad to get home?"
"Yes, but still the spirit of unrest
soon showed itself and determined to
90 to Chicago. l worked for Joe
Medill, now of the Chicago Tribune.
l went to Rock Island, then to st. Paul,
which was hardly more than little
village then. A party of US bought a
small fiatboat and we were soon on
the way down the river for New Or
leans. On the way 'sticked' type
in Dubuque, Davenport. Bloomington,
Quincy, st. Louis, Vicksburg and other
places.
Secession was talked of in New
Orleans and life became a burden to
the Northerners. 1t became hot for
Yankees, and sixty of us banded to-
gether to come North by the river.
We had but little in the way of funds.
Most of us were armed either with rifles
or revolvers. With the aid of the rifles
we were able TO reach Cairo, where ]
worked for a printer long enough to
get money to go home once more to
my dear little wife.
"At Cleveland / enlisted in the
Second Ohio regiment. We went to
Washington, and soon after the Bull
Run fight were discharged. l went
home. Late in December, 1861, en-
listed again as a New York State vol
unteer, and went to Key West, Fla.
Then we were sent to Pensacola. De-
cember "a, 1852, General Butler sent
us to Baton Rouge. In the spring we
took part in passing the gunboats at
Port Hudson. We went up the Red
river under Banks, and in few months
we went home on furlough. l re-
mained in the service till July 4, 1865. "
"Did you 60 to printing again?"
"Yes, l have been a printer always.
1 always expect to be. Since then /
have been in Europe. Asia. on the west
coast of Africa, the West India islands,
and as far west as Kansas City in this
country, setting type or doing some
kind of printing to earn food, clothes
and dollar to take me fifty miles east
or west, north or south. From Kansas
City footed it to Erie, Pa have Sc
cured something to do out of town. and
hope to see you again. "-Bostofs Globe.